Determination of mixing layer height from ceilometer backscatter profiles

Marijn de Haij; Wiel Wauben; Henk Klein Baltink

doi:10.1117/12.691050

11 October 2006 Determination of mixing layer height from ceilometer backscatter profiles

Marijn de Haij, Wiel Wauben, Henk Klein Baltink

Proceedings Volume 6362, Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere XI; 63620R (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.691050
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2006, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract

Mixing layer height (MLH) is a key parameter in many atmospheric boundary layer studies and processes. A Wavelet method is developed for the automatic determination of mixing layer height from backscatter profiles of an LD-40 ceilometer. Furthermore, a quality flag is introduced to identify unreliable MLH detections. The performance of the Wavelet MLH algorithm is analysed by comparing the results with MLH estimates from radiosondes, wind profiler and research lidar measurements. A correlation coefficient of 0.64 is found between ceilometer and radiosonde determinations when using only ceilometer MLH detections with good quality. A statistical analysis of the ceilometer MLH for a six year data set shows satisfactory results for availability and the results show the main characteristics of MLH, i.e. the diurnal and seasonal cycle. However, problems arise e.g. in case of multiple (well defined) aerosol layers, which renders the selection of the correct mixing layer top ambiguous. Furthermore, in spring and summer the detection of the MLH for deep (convective) boundary layer often fails. This is mostly due to the high variability of the aerosol backscatter signal with height which limits the range for MLH estimation in those conditions.

Citation Download Citation

Marijn de Haij, Wiel Wauben, and Henk Klein Baltink "Determination of mixing layer height from ceilometer backscatter profiles", Proc. SPIE 6362, Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere XI, 63620R (11 October 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.691050

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available